Device for normalizing nonorganic fixation of the vertebral spinal column



Dec. 31, 1935. B, E. WALSTROM DEVICE FOR NORMALIZING NONORGANIC FIXATION OF THE VERTEBRAL SPINAL COLUMN Filed Aug. 9, 1933 m n n 1712011751" BJ'OZ/MI'E Wakfpaln/ gifdb/ugL Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES zezessz ATENT oFFieE FIXATION OF COLUMN THE VERTEBRAL 'SPINAL Brother E. Walstrom, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 9,

2 Claims.

My invention relates toimprovements in devices for normalizing non-organic fixation of the vertebral spinal column and has among other objects toprovide a new and novel device of the class described. 7

Heretofore, adjustment of the vertebrae of the spinal column has been made, or fixation of the vertebrae of the spinal column has been normalized by the sudden application of pressure on the patients back with the hand or knee, when the patient is in a cramped position, by attempting to force the vertebra laterally with respect to the spinal column into their normal positions. Such a method is awkward and discomforting to the patient and is not always effective, sometimes requiring many treatments to get the vertebrae in such condition that they can be laterally moved into their proper position.

Devices of various types have been provided for normalizing non-organic fixation of the vertebral spinal column; such as clamps operated by hand or pressure members strapped against the back. These devices all work on the principle that the vertebrae are moved laterally with re- 26 spect to the spinal column and, besides causing discomfort to the patient, have generally been inefiective and of little practical value.

My invention has as its object to obviate these difficulties and normalize mobility of the vertebraa of the spinal column in states of hypermobility and non-organic fixation thereof in a simplified and efficient manner.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification pro- 5 ceeds.

' My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown inFigure 1 with parts shown in section;

Figure 3 is a bottom View of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic posterior view of a portion of the spinal column showing the device of my invention applied thereto; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic lateral View of a portion of the spinal column with parts of the 50 vertebrae broken away, showing the device of my invention applied thereto.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the variousfigures.

Referring now in particular to the drawing 55 illustrating one embodiment of my invention, a

1933, Serial No. 684,366

pressure applying member I6 is provided which comprises a flat plate of a suitable thickness so it may maintain its rigidity upon the application of pressure thereon. The pressure applying member I9 is preferably formed in the shape of an isosceles triangle, the corners of which are rounded and may be made from any suitable material, such as bakelite, hard wood, aluminum, or any other strong, relatively light material, and is of such a size that it may conveniently fit in the hand. A knurled raised central portion l I is provided on the top portion of the pressure applying member l3 which forms a surface which may be engaged by the hand for exerting pressure thereon. While the raised central portion H of the pressure applying member IE3 is herein preferably shown as being knurled and formed integral with said pressure applying member, it may also consist of a separate piece formed from a resilient material, such as rubber, which may be inserted in the face of said pressure applying member.

The opposite side of the pressure applying member In is provided with three cylindrical lugs l2, l2. Each lug l2 has a threaded bore adjacent its center and each of said lugs is located at a point adjacent a corner of said pressure ap plying member but spaced inwardly therefrom. A pressure member M having a recessed center is adapted to be fitted on each lug l2 and is secured thereto by means of a machine screw l5 imbedded therein and adapted to be threaded within the threaded bores of said lugs.

The pressure members It, I 4 are of a cylindrical form and have engaging surfaces lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the pressure applying member ID. As herein shown, the pressure members l4, M are preferably made from rubber of a resilient, non-slippable consistency but may be made from any resilient, non-slippable material. Said pressure members are so spaced on the pressure applying member [0 and the area of the engaging surfaces of said pressure members is such that each of said pressure members may engage transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column at substantially any position along the normal spinal column without engaging other transverse processes than are desired (see Figures 4 and 5). Also, the distance from the engaging surfaces of the pressure members l4, M to the pressure applying member I0 is such that said pressure applying member may clear the spinous processes of the vertebrae for substantially the entire length of the normal spinal column.

With reference now to the application of the device embodying my invention and Figures l and 5 in particular, three vertebrae of the vertebral spinal column are diagrammatically shown and generally indicated by reference characters ll, l8, and 20, respectively. Each vertebra includes a columnar or base 2|, a spinous process (not shown) extending generally outwardly therefrom, transverse processes 22, 22 extending laterally therefrom, inferior facets or posterior articular processes 23, 23 depending therefrom, and superior facets or anterior articular processes 25, 24 extending upwardly therefrom, said superior facets of one vertebra being adapted to underlie inferior facets of the next adjacent vertebra.

When the spinal column is out of its position of normal adjustment, an inferior facet of one vertebra is usually fixed to a superior facet of the next adjacent vertebra, preventing normal range of motions, such as side bending, rotation, and extension of the vertebra, which may interfere with the normal impulses carried over the nerve fibers emerging from the spinal cord. This produces an edema of tissue and swelling sufficient to cause cramping or pinching of the nerves or blood vessels with a resultant disorder or disease of the body. As has before been stated, the usual manner for adjusting the vertebrae to their normal position has been to at: tempt to move the mal-adjusted vertebra laterally into its proper position. The device of my invention operates on the principle that the vertebrae are pivotally moved about an axis substantially coaxial with the center of the veterbral spinal column for adjustment to their normal position in a new and novel manner instead of moved laterally into position.

When a fixed or mal-adjusted vertebra is found, the pressure member M at the apex of the triangle of the pressure applying member ID is placed on the transverse process 22 of this vertebra, which transverse process is usually identified by the fact that it protrudes from the other transverse processes a certain distance and is Sometimes sensitive to touch, as well as the fact that the area is restricted in side bending, rotation, and extension. Assuming this fixed or maladjusted vertebra is the vertebra l8, shown in the drawing, that an inferior facet 23 of said vertebra is fixed to the superior facet 24 of the vertebra l1, while a superior facet 26 of said vertebra on the opposite side of the vertebral spinal column is fixed to an inferior facet 23 of the vertebra, 28, and. that the pressure member Id at the apex of the triangle of the pressure applying member ID has been applied thereto, in the aforementioned manner, a pressure member 14 at one corner of the base of the triangle is positioned on the transverse process 22 of the vertebra 20 on the opposite side of said vertebra than the ransverse process 22 of the vertebra l8 engaged by the pressure member M at the apex of the triangle, and the pressure member Id at the opposite corner of the base of the triangle is positioned on the transverse process 22 of the vertebra I! on the same side of the vetebral spinal column as the transverse process 22 of the veterbra 2U engaged by said second-mentioned pressure member. When the pressure applying member Ill and pressure members l4, id have been so positioned, a sudden pressure is applied thereon with the hand, either when the patient is lying with his face downward or is in a sitting position. Where fixation is non-organic, this pressure tends to pivot the vertebra l8 in one direction about an axis substantially coaxial with the center of the vertebral spinal column and simultaneously tends to pivot the vertebrae i7 and 20 in an opposite direction about an axis substantially coaxial with the center of 5 the vertebral spinal column since pressure on the vertebra i8 is on one side of the spinal column and pressure on the vertebra H and 28 is on the opposite side of the spinal column. Pivotal movement of said vertebrae in this manner tends 10 to separate an inferior facet 23 of the vertebra l8 from a superior facet 26 of the vertebra I! on the side of the vertebral spinal column adjacent the base of the pressure applying member Ill and simultaneously tends to separate a superior 15 facet 24 of the vertebra Hi from an inferior facet 23 of the vertebra 20 on the side of the spinal column adjacent the apex of the pressure memher it, while it tends to engage a superior facet 2d of the vertebra I 8 with an inferior facet 23 20 of the vertebra 2% and an inferior facet 23 of the vertebra i8 with a superior facet 24 of the vertebra l7 and tends to pivot the vertebra l8 to a normal position.

It is readily apparent that if the inferior and 25 superior facets of the vertebra l8 are locked on opposite sides of the vertebral spinal column than is shown in Figure 4, that the pressure member M at the apex of the pressure applying member It] may be positioned on the transverse process 30 22 of said vertebra on the opposite side of the spinal column than is shown in the drawing, and that the positions of the pressure applying members I 4, I l may be reversed.

It should also be understood that pressure may 3-5 be exerted on the pressure applying member II] with the knee as well as with the hand, and that the pressure members I 4, l4 engage the respective transverse processes 22, 22 in a plane parallel to the plane of the back as is illustrated in Figures 40 4 and 5 to exert a pressure on said transverse processes in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the back and tend to pivot the engaged vertebrae in the proper manner and prevent any of said pressure applying members from slipping 5 from its respective transverse process as pressure is applied thereon.

It may thus be seen that a simplified device and manner has been provided which is adapted to efiiciently adjust the vertebrae of the spinal '50 column and normalize mobility of said vertebrae in states of hypermobility and non-organic fixation thereof by pivotally moving said vertebrae. in a normal manner.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction or arrangement of parts herein shown and described, excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, a rigid member adapted to have manual pressure directly applied to the outer face thereof, three pressure members extending from the side of 65 said member opposite its outer face, said pressure applying members being arranged at the corners of an isosceles triangle and spaced so they may be positioned to engage transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae of the vertebral spinal column at various positions along said spinal column, two of said transverse processes being on one side of the vertebral spinal column and the other of said transverse processes being between said transverse processes and on the opposite side of .75

the vertebrae spinal column, the engaging surface of said pressure members being arranged in a plane parallel to the plane that pressure is exerted on said member whereby one of said pressure members may act as a fulcrum about which the other two members pivot for pivoting two vertebrae in one direction about the axis of the spinal column and the other vertebrae intermediate said vertebra in an opposite direction about said axis upon the application of pressure to said rigid member.

2. In a device of the character described, a flat rigid member having a raised engaging portion on the outer face thereof whereby manual pressure may be directly applied thereto, three resilient pressure members extending from the opposite side of said member, said pressure members having engaging surfaces in a common plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of said member, and each of said pressure members being arranged at the corner of an isosceles triangle and being adapted to engage and exert pressure on a transverse process of a vertebra of the vertebral spinal column in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the back, the pressure member at the apex of said triangle being adapted to engage a transverse process of one vertebra, which process is on one side of the spinal column, and the pressure members at the base of said triangle being adapted to engage transverse processes of vertebra disposed on each side of and adjacent said first-mentioned vertebrae on the opposite side of the spinal column from said firstmentioned process, in such a manner that the application of pressure on said pressure member will tend to cause said rigid member to pivot about said pressure member at the apex of said triangle and pivot said vertebrae on each side of said first-mentioned vertebra about an axis substantially coaxial with the vertebral spinal column and tend to pivot said first-mentioned vertebra in an opposite direction where fixation of the spinal column is non-organic.

- BROTHER E. WAISTROM. 

